Our Process for Creating a Memoir or History
My mom reads stories from my Chapters of Life® book. It makes her remember funny stories of when she was a kid. We all laugh a lot! We love the stories and pictures! I take my Chapters of Life® book with me every place. I love to read it in the car, before bed and with friends. It’s fun!
Kate Cooney, St. Louis
We want you to feel absolutely comfortable with the process for creating your memoir. Read through the following information and let us know if you have any questions.
Biographical Information Sheet
Upon meeting with a client, we provide a simple biographical information sheet to gather the basic factual information, such as birth dates, spellings of family members’ names, wedding dates, schools attended and jobs held. That way, when we meet with the narrator for the interview, we can focus on capturing memories and collecting stories.
Interviews
We meet with narrators in their own homes, where they’re likely to feel the most comfortable. We find a quiet spot where we can talk without interruption or noisy backgrounds. A lapel microphone is clipped to the narrator’s clothing to make certain all his or her comments are recorded. We also leave the narrators with a small booklet where they can jot down memorable stories or life events, or anything that comes to mind later that they may have forgotten to mention. We make certain to address those items in subsequent interviews.
By asking simple, straightforward questions, we prompt the narrator to share stories that begin flowing easily. We may jump around during the interview, as one story may follow from another, but the organization can come later during the editing process. The important thing is to capture the narrator’s recollections in his or her words.
Transcribing
We then transcribe each of the interviews and do light editing—eliminating the false starts, ums and uhs—and identify anything that needs to be clarified during the next interview.
Gathering Resources
We ask the storyteller and family members to gather photos and other memorabilia they’d like to have in the final book. We either scan the items at the client’s home or transport them carefully in a fire safe to ensure they remain unharmed. After scanning the photos and backing them up, we return them in the same condition.
Putting it All Together
After the interviews end, we edit the transcriptions into either a first-person or third-person narrative, depending on the client’s desires. During this phase, we conduct extensive research to fill in any gaps and double-check facts and figures. Then we provide a first draft copy for corrections, additions or deletions.
When the first draft is returned, we make any changes indicated, and then design the photos and stories into a beautiful book. A draft of the book is provided to the client and/or narrator for any final changes.
After those changes are made, the book receives a final look for any typographical errors or other problems. When all changes are made, we print the book in either color or black and white, again depending on the client’s desires, and have all the copies bound. You have a beautiful, bound memoir that you can proudly display to friends, families and colleagues.
Get Started Now!
As you can see, Chapters of Life® focuses on your comfort, convenience, and goals when crafting a memoir for you. Learn more about the different types of memory books offered:
- Personal Memoirs
- Family Memory Books
- Oral Histories
- Spiritual Legacies
- Corporate Histories
You may find the free articles and resources on our website helpful as you take your first steps toward creating your memoir. We invite you to contact us with any questions or concerns you have.